U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano has decided not to run for Massachusetts governor next year.

Capuano had been considering a bid, but the Democrat announced Thursday that he had decided against entering the 2014 campaign after talking to his family.

"I am truly touched by the support and encouragement I received throughout this process, but believe that I can best serve the commonwealth in Congress," Capuano said in a statement. "I will continue to be a strong voice for progressive policies in Washington."

Capuano's decision comes just weeks after Attorney General Martha Coakley announced her candidacy.

Capuano lost to Coakley in the Democratic primary in the 2010 special U.S. Senate election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of longtime Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy. Coakley ultimately lost that election to Republican Scott Brown.

Other Democrats in the race include state Treasurer Steven Grossman, Newton pediatrician and former Obama administration health care official Don Berwick, former federal homeland security official Juliette Kayyem and former Wellesley Selectman Joseph Avellone.

Charlie Baker is the only Republican in the race. The former head of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care ran for governor against Gov. Deval Patrick in 2010 and lost.

Democratic state Sen. Dan Wolf's candidacy is on hold as the state Ethics Commission weighs changes to the rules that could allow him to renew his campaign for governor and keep his seat in the state Legislature.

Patrick has said he will not seek a third term and is planning to return to the private sector after leaving office in January 2015.